|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on Nov 13, 2022 9:56:46 GMT -6
The depth of strong marching band programs in Texas and Indiana is just incredible. Three Texas bands made Grand National Finals who were not even among the top 10-15 or so bands in the state. I know Texas is a big state, but so are California, Florida and New York. Indiana does not even rank among the top 15 most populous states. Nearby Ohio, Illinois and Michigan all have larger populations. So my questions to all those Hoosiers and Texans on the Forums are what kind of resources are being put into music education in the school systems, how much money are parents forking over for music education and what kind of programs are available for elementary music education?
Indiana has always had a good depth of strong marching band programs, while the top level programs in Texas have been growing exponentially. Here is an example of Indiana and the rise of Texas band have changed over the years based on number of Grand National Finalist bands from those states. Keep in mind, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, most of the top level Indiana bands were not attending Grand Nationals.
Year: # of Indiana Bands; # of Texas Bands; Combined Total of Indiana and Texas bands in GN Finals
1976: 0; 0; 0
1977: 0; 0; 0
1978: 1; 0; 1
1979: 1; 0; 1
1980: 1; 0; 1
1981: 5; 0; 5
1982: 4; 0; 4
1983: 4; 0; 4
1984: 5; 0; 5
1985: 4; 1; 5
1986: 3; 0; 3
1987: 1; 0; 1
1988: 1; 0; 1
1989: 2; 0; 2
1990: 1; 1; 2
1991: 0; 2; 2
1992: 2; 0; 2
1993: 2; 2; 4
1994: 1; 1; 2
1995: 1; 1; 2
1996: 3; 0; 3
1997: 3; 0; 3
1998: 2; 1; 3
1999: 3; 2; 5
2000: 3; 0; 3
2001: 4; 1; 5
2002: 3; 4; 7
2003: 4; 3; 7
2004: 4; 2; 6
2005: 4; 3; 7
2006: 3; 4; 7
2007: 4; 4: 8
2008: 4; 1; 5
2009: 4; 4; 8
2010: 4; 3; 7
2011: 3; 2; 5
2012: 4; 2; 6
2013: 3; 5; 8
2014: 4; 1; 5
2015: 3; 4; 7
2016: 4; 4; 8
2017: 3; 4; 7
2018: 3; 1; 4
2019: 3; 6; 9
2021: 2; 6; 8
2022: 5; 3; 8
|
|
|
|
Post by twhsalumniparent on Nov 13, 2022 11:25:17 GMT -6
I had a performer at The Woodlands from the 2015 marching season through the 2018 marching season (so this is outdated information). For the 2 years we went to Grand Nationals (2015 and 2017) the band fees were roughly $2100. For the 2 seasons we did not attend, the fees were roughly $1100. They went up each year of course, so the 2017 trip was more than the 2015 trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on Nov 13, 2022 11:40:12 GMT -6
I had a performer at The Woodlands from the 2015 marching season through the 2018 marching season (so this is outdated information). For the 2 years we went to Grand Nationals (2015 and 2017) the band fees were roughly $2100. For the 2 seasons we did not attend, the fees were roughly $1100. They went up each year of course, so the 2017 trip was more than the 2015 trip.
I figured it had to be a hefty sum. That is pretty expensive. |
|
|
|
Post by josephbandfan on Nov 13, 2022 14:15:10 GMT -6
I had a performer at The Woodlands from the 2015 marching season through the 2018 marching season (so this is outdated information). For the 2 years we went to Grand Nationals (2015 and 2017) the band fees were roughly $2100. For the 2 seasons we did not attend, the fees were roughly $1100. They went up each year of course, so the 2017 trip was more than the 2015 trip.
Woah, that's a lot. I've heard a lot of the top bands were in the $1000's. Unless my memory/sources are wrong, I think the band fees at Keller are somewhere in the $600-$700 area. Macy's in 2018 was obviously very expensive but other than that, Keller hasn't gone on any big out of state trip since their trip to GN in 2015. |
|
|
|
Post by allthingschaotic on Nov 13, 2022 15:07:43 GMT -6
My school (DFW area 5A) has a base fee about $900 for returning members. For freshman and students needing new supplies, fees can go up to $1,200 or more. Then you have instrument rental fees, private lesson fees, spring trip fees, etc. I believe it all ends up near $2,000-2,800 for most students by then end of the year, but it can cost even more if there's an out-of-state trip.
Fees can change depending on how much funding the district allocates to the program. My district covers almost nothing because "the kids live in a rich area" even though half of the band members come from a less affluent area. Some other districts in DFW cover instrument fees and Lewisville ISD is known to cover a school's Grand Nats trip fees to some degree.
I have heard that Ronald Reagan's fees go up to $3,000, but don't quote me on that.
|
|
|
|
Post by yayband914 on Nov 13, 2022 15:49:58 GMT -6
Not Indiana or Texas, but I know William Mason charges around $4,000 per student to be in the marching band.
|
|
|
|
Post by LeanderMomma on Nov 14, 2022 8:23:23 GMT -6
I had a performer at The Woodlands from the 2015 marching season through the 2018 marching season (so this is outdated information). For the 2 years we went to Grand Nationals (2015 and 2017) the band fees were roughly $2100. For the 2 seasons we did not attend, the fees were roughly $1100. They went up each year of course, so the 2017 trip was more than the 2015 trip.
I figured it had to be a hefty sum. That is pretty expensive. Interestingly enough, I interviewed the MG Johnson boosters about their GN trip and they were able to send their kids for $750 apiece by acting as their own travel agents!! It CAN be done!! |
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Nov 14, 2022 8:57:36 GMT -6
I figured it had to be a hefty sum. That is pretty expensive. Interestingly enough, I interviewed the MG Johnson boosters about their GN trip and they were able to send their kids for $750 apiece by acting as their own travel agents!! It CAN be done!! That's impressive. Still $300 more than the total fees for our local school. |
|
|
|
Post by OldSchoolTrumpet on Nov 14, 2022 9:07:02 GMT -6
Band fees for my kids at Homestead (IN) in the years 2011-2016 were $250-$275 per year. But Homestead had a tremendous fund raising operation with very involved parents. Also, no one was ever turned away if they were unable to pay the fees. I can't speak to what the current fees are.
|
|
|
|
Post by LeanderMomma on Nov 19, 2022 19:50:39 GMT -6
On non GN years, I paid $450 in annual band fees for my daughter at Leander, but we also paid $90 per month for private lessons given by a flute teacher at the school. GN was an additional $1300 in 2016.
|
|
|
|
Post by vidal28rdg on Nov 20, 2022 13:23:56 GMT -6
I think for my school on average, in between 2014-2018, this was for my school that did several competitions, boa, local DFW contests and occasionally BOASA and once for St. Louis, it averaged out to around $600-$700 in band fees? My memory is a little fuzzy there, probably a bit more for the St. Louis trip. The craziest expense there was for me was outside of band for an orchestra Midwest Clinic trip! Added about a thousand in expenses when you also had to deal with the fall band fees👀😂
|
|
|
|
Post by tjuillerat on Nov 20, 2022 15:19:01 GMT -6
When our son was a freshman at Brownsburg in 2016 the fees were around $400. His Senior year they were $2500, but that included Florida BOA trip, Toledo BOA, Indy Super and our first ever appearance at Grand Nats (2019).
Our daughter is an 8th grader this year and marched. Her fees were about $1200. We did Louisville BOA, Indy Super and Grand Nats. Worth every penny!
But when you live 10 minutes from Avon and 20 minutes from Carmel…
|
|
